Watch what I eat and spend time exercising. I have a natural tendency to be slim everywhere but my belly. I have to watch what I eat and workout to avoid the belly fat. It takes self-control and discipline. I'm lucky, that's not a big problem for me.

Rice cakes and xanax

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No pasta, no bread, no sugar. Ever. I haven't had those things in years.

Would rather be fat than swearing off pasta and bread.

No such thing over 45. I don't believe in the low carb thing. I work out too much. I do a lot of protein. I read that the only way to stay slim over 40 is to eat a ton of protein.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Low carb diet. Protein shake meals. Timed meals. Lots of steamed veggies and lean meat. Huge bunch of supplements. Going to bed early and getting 9 hours of sleep. Being active, walking mainly.

Doesn't this limit your social life, or you don't ordinarily go out once or twice a week with friends/family for dinner/drinks?

NP. You learn how to order. You get bunless burgers with a side salad instead of fries. If you get Chinese you order steamed veggies/lean meat with sauce on the side and drizzle/dip sparingly, no rice or crunchy noodles. You choose chicken satay over eggrolls. Hot and sour soup, no wontons - yes, there are probably starches in the broth so don't order the soup if you think that will be a problem for you. In general, you try to substitute starchy sides with veggies. Or you simply don't eat the starchy side if it does come on your plate.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 40, slim, but flabby. Nothing special that I do to stay slim, eat healthy and everything in moderation, drink wine. Also not much that I can do apparenty to tone up; have been steadily doing 20+ mins of exercise each day since turning 36, and while it's better, I'm nowhere near toned. So yes, naturally slim -even after 2 kids- but also naturally flabby.

You need to lift weights with a trainer for 50-60 minutes at least twice a week to tone up.

Anonymous wrote:No pasta, no bread, no sugar. Ever. I haven't had those things in years.

Would rather be fat than swearing off pasta and bread.

Does anyone who posts in this thread as over 40 and slim have multiple teenagers at home and a full time job with long commute? I'm not slim because I'm a stress eater.

Anonymous wrote:Low carb diet. Protein shake meals. Timed meals. Lots of steamed veggies and lean meat. Huge bunch of supplements. Going to bed early and getting 9 hours of sleep. Being active, walking mainly.

Doesn't this limit your social life, or you don't ordinarily go out once or twice a week with friends/family for dinner/drinks?

Stress.

Anonymous wrote:Re: intermittent fasting - what pattern has worked best for you?

Eat Stop Eat. Google the Brad Pilon blog.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - agree with stress.
Unfortunately Im a SAHM mom now and I find that harder - when i was working, I would often forget about food when there was some deadline or crisis.

Thanks to all PPs for your candid and helpful replies.

I think some form of intermittent fasting would probably work best for me and maybe cutting out sugar more than i already do.

Every other day intermittent fasting worked for me because it's much easier to restrict those calories when you know that the next day you're totally off the hook.

OP here - agree with stress.
Unfortunately Im a SAHM mom now and I find that harder - when i was working, I would often forget about food when there was some deadline or crisis.

Thanks to all PPs for your candid and helpful replies.

I think some form of intermittent fasting would probably work best for me and maybe cutting out sugar more than i already do.